Canucks 4, Avalanche 2

Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Ryan Kesler's disputed goal 3:52 into the third period stood up as the game winner as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Alex Burrows added an insurance goal with 6:53 left, and Kevin Bieksa and Daniel Sedin also scored as the Canucks snapped a four-game losing streak to move into a tie with Colorado atop the Northwest Division.

Kesler's 100th NHL goal was originally waved off because it appeared that new linemate Jeff Tambellini knocked in the rebound of Kesler's shot with a high stick after the puck bounced high over goalie Peter Budaj. But replays showed Tambellini missed the puck - hitting Budaj in the helmet instead - and that it went in off the netminder. The call was overturned after a lengthy video review and gave the Canucks a 3-1 lead.

Duchene pulled Colorado back within one goal less than three minutes later, jamming a puck through Roberto Luongo from a sharp angle. But Burrows, reunited with Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the top line after being demoted for two games, scored on a 3-on-2 break with the identical twins to restore the two-goal cushion.

Henrik Sedin had two assists. Luongo made 21 saves.

It was a costly game for the Avalanche, which lost starting goalie Craig Anderson and veteran defenseman Adam Foote to injuries before the second period.

Foote had to be helped off the ice after sustaining a leg injury with 30 seconds left in the first period. Anderson started the second on the bench because of a groin injury.

Anderson made just his second start after missing 10 games with a knee injury sustained in warmups at Vancouver on Oct. 26.

Budaj, 6-3-1 in Anderson's absence, made a couple of great stops and finished with 10 saves. He had little chance when Daniel Sedin parked himself in the slot and redirected a slap pass from Henrik into the top corner to make it 2-1.

Bieksa's first of the season opened the scoring during a delayed-penalty call midway through the first period. Mikael Samuelsson played catch with a couple of teammates at the blue line while the extra attacker came on for Luongo. Samuelsson threw the puck at the net and it hit Bieksa's stick and bounced up and over Anderson.

It was just the second time in eight games that Vancouver scored first.

Liles tied it on a power play, firing a point shot to the right of Luongo just as he looked around to the left of Chris Stewart's screen atop the crease.

NOTES: Tambellini, recalled Wednesday after recording seven points in seven AHL games, had an assist while playing on the second line. ... Anderson stopped six of seven shots before leaving. ... During a pregame ceremony, the Canucks honored former goalie Kirk McLean, who is now the Avalanche's goaltending consultant, with the second spot in their new Ring of Honor. ... Vancouver has won all three meetings with the Avalanche this season. ... Colorado is 0-7 when scoring two or fewer goals.